Nuts for you!

I absolutely love this cardstock form Bo Bunny's Love Bandit line. Studio Getaway has it in stock in time for Valentine's Day. The sheet is double sided and actually has little valentines you can cut out and use.

I used this sheet to make several of my projects for my January Getaway Girl projects. Below is a card using just the acorns image from the sheet I cut out. The background paper is also from the Love Bandit line.

I added some Icicle Stickles for a little added sparkle to finish off the card. I will be posting more projects over the next couple of days!

Product Review- Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black

I have searched long and far for a great black ink for stamping. With so many brands out there, it might be hard to choose which kind of ink to use. Dye inks soak right into the paper and dry quickly, while pigment inks sit on top and may need to be heat set before they dry. There are also hybrid and permanent inks made for non porous surfaces. The kind of ink you use depends on the effect you are looking to achieve.
My personal preference is for a dye ink, specifically one that will let me use my favorite Copic markers or colored pencils without smearing. I also like an ink to have a full, even coverage.
My favorite by far is Tsukineko's Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I use the dew drop size, both for it's convenience and inexpensive price.
The Manufacturer's site says:
"Memento™ dye ink is fast drying and fade resistant. Compactly sized, with both a round end and an elongated tip, the Dew Drops are colorful, collectible and free standing. The innovative pad delivers finer impressions and exceptionally even coverage."
Over the last few months I have found this to be my go to ink for almost every stamping project. I first read about it in this review here. Check out the performance level of this ink against other inks when used with different brands of markers in the review. Since reading about it, I noticed a lot of cards and projects in magazines are using this ink. I gave it a try and couldn't be happier. It works amazingly well with my Copics, especially if I heat set it. I have watercolored with it even and had no smearing. I have also been using it it my Stamp of the month classes the last few months and everyone seems happy with it. Memento Tuxedo Black Ink in the Dew Drop sized pad is in stock now at Studio Getaway!

New Product & Review: Scor-Pal

From the manufacturer's website: "The slightly textured scoring surface is 12" x 12", with a raised fence at the top (ruler markings) and on the left and right side. This aligns your paper for perfect scoring. No more crooked cards! Grooves are across the board at different intervals. Besides the normal 1/2" and 1" intervals there are grooves at 2 1/8" for gate fold cards, at 4 1/4" for normal A2 cards, and at 3.666" and 7.333" for brochure folding (divides 11" paper into equal thirds) When you place your card stock on the scoring surface, you are able to do multiple scores without moving the paper. Grid cards, accordion folds, boxes etc are scored in seconds. The score lines result in crisp, accurate folds! At the 0 to 1" mark and 11" to 12" mark there are 1/8" markings. By proper paper placement this will allow you to score 1/8 " increments such as 1 7/8" The included scoring tool snaps into place at the top of the unit. It is always at hand. It has been specially designed to fit the grooves so the card stock can not be torn while scoring. Additional scoring tools can be ordered separately. Perfect tool for straight and diagonal line embossing on cards and scrapbook pages!"
I have had a Scor-Pal for a few weeks now. I have mostly used it for A2 card folding, and it works incredibly well. At first, I did balk at the price. But after using it and seeing how precise my folds were, I decided I wasn't going to waste anymore cardstock by mis-scoring. I can't tell you how much cardstock I've had to put in the scrap pile because my old trimmer's scoring was off a bit. With the Scor-Pal, I don't have that problem. It comes with a scoring tool that glides right over any cardstock I've used so far. The top of the tray also makes it so easy to make sure the stock is perfectly aligned.
I have seen many beautiful cards made using 45 degree angle lattice scoring, but have not yet tried it.

Product Review- Stickles Glitter Glue from Ranger Ink

If you have not yet tried Stickles, you are really missing out. Stickles is one of the easiest ways to add that accent to really make your projects sparkle. It’s acid free so you don’t have to worry when placing it on your scrapbook pages, or even on photos.

Basically, Stickles is glitter glue, meaning the glitter is suspended in a clear drying glue. The glue itself is quick drying, especially if used in small amounts. It’s non-toxic, non-settling, and washes off with water if you happen to get some on you. Most people who use this product for the fist time are amazed at how much dimension it adds to their project, especially embellishments. The product also sticks well to most surfaces, so you can really think outside the box. According to the Ranger Ink website, it is even supposed to stick to candles!

Another great thing about Stickles, is a little goes a long way. I prefer to use a very thin layer for most of my projects. Combine pricing at only $1.99 for a .5oz bottle, and the fact that you can use it very sparingly on your individual projects, I have found that Stickles is one of the most inexpensive embellishments I have in my craft room. And with the small price tag, its easy to add several colors to you collection at once.

The bottle has a fine tip that makes squeezing out the right amount very easy. Also, the tip makes placement of the glue a breeze, especially on small embellishments, like brads, die cut lettering, and flowers. You are able to draw lines and patterns, and have precise control of the glue.

There are several types of Stickles and not all give the same effect. Some Stickles colors, for instance, have iridescent glitter and tend to be more transparent, but also have more sparkle. The Tim Holtz Signature series has chunkier glitter with less shine, so it has a duller look, more like vintage glass glitter. The Tim Holtz Signature series has a larger tip on the bottle for the chunkier glitter, and color coordinates with Tim’s Distress Ink line of products.

My two favorite colors of Stickles are Diamond & Icicle. Both have the iridescent quality and are fairly transparent. They work well with almost every color surface I have put them on, because the color of the surface shows through. Diamond also has a finer grain of glitter than Icicle, so it has a more refined look. For first time users, I always recommend on of these two colors for you to try. I also recommend storing the bottles upside down so the glue stays near the tip and prevents it from drying out before it’s time. I saw an idea on one blog where the crafter put small magnets on the bottom of her bottles and attached them to a metal tray she mounted under her craft room cabinet. They were just above her workspace and very handy as they were right in front of her. Brilliant!

Let us know if you have used Stickles and what you think of this product by leaving a comment below. One lucky person will win a .5 oz. bottle of Stickles from Studio Getaway! Winner will be drawn at 12pm on Thursday, May 7th.